President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines on Sunday after what he described as a “fruitful” participation in the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju and Busan, South Korea, where he pushed for deeper economic, technological and defense cooperation.

The plane carrying the President and his delegation landed at Villamor Airbase.

In his arrival statement, Marcos said the discussions among APEC leaders tackled the most pressing regional challenges, from supply chain disruptions and climate change to artificial intelligence and economic inequality.

“Our engagements were robust, our discussions fruitful, and our shared commitment to collective action reaffirmed,” Marcos said.

“We saw alignment in the urgency for resilient growth, inclusive prosperity and sustainable development.”

Marcos said he advanced Philippine priorities during the summit, including narrowing the digital divide for micro, small and medium enterprises, promoting digital literacy, strengthening supply chain resilience, and improving infrastructure connectivity.

“These priorities were well-received,” the President said, adding that the Philippines’ proposals were reflected in the summit’s outcome documents.

On the sidelines of the APEC meetings, Marcos met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chilean President Gabriel Boric to reaffirm bilateral ties and expand cooperation in trade, innovation, and defense.

The President also held talks with top Korean conglomerates, including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which signed a PHP50.7-billion expansion agreement and expected to generate 3,000 high-technology jobs for Filipino engineers and technicians.

He also discussed potential partnerships in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense industries, notably with Hanwha Ocean, which has expressed interest in supporting the Philippine Navy’s submarine program.

Marcos concluded his visit with a meeting with the Filipino community in Busan, lauding their contributions and urging them to “stay united” in helping build a stronger, more resilient Philippines.

“Now as we return home, let us all carry forward the momentum that we have built — translating our commitments and agreements into tangible results,” he said. (PNA)